Process for recovering petroleum and apparatus therefor



1932- F. A. HOWARD 1,861,013

PROCESS FOR RECOVERING PETROLEUM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed June 24.1927 GASES FOR 1 COMBUSTION SEPARA TOR /'&

Flat-1 fiANK/fi. ffOM ARD 8440044 60:

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK'A. HOWARD, OFELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL DE- VELOPMENT COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE PROCESS FOR RECOVERING PETROLEUM AND APPARATUSTHEREFOR Application filed June 24,

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining petroleumfrom oil wells. More particularly the invention relates to an improvedmethod and apparatus for the revival or acceleration of flow in .wellswhich flow sluggishly or have ceased toflow. In accordance with mymethod, gases are generated by combustion below the level of the oil inthe well. The gases commingle with the oil to form a column of mixed.oil

and gas.

Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings is a vertical section of apparatusadapted for maintaining combustion at a point in the oil to be liftedand Fig. 2 is a vertical plan, partly in section, of apparatus "suitablefor carrying out my invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates an elongated cylindrical chamber 1, having arefractory lining 2 and a steel floor 3. The guide 4 is provided on thelower end of the chamber for facilitating descent in the tube.Combustion gases may escape through openings 5. Rod 7 holds the meansfor initiating combustion 6 at the proper point in the chamber. The wire7a is a means for lowerin the igniter 6 and rod 7 into the chamber. asesto support combustion may be introduced through inlet pipes 8 and 9.

Fig. 2 illustrates the combustion chamber, previously described, in tube10 which in turn is concentrically located in casing 11. Compressors 16and 17 supply air and natural gas respectively, or mixturesof the two,through pipes 8 and 9 to the chamber. Valves 18, 19 and 20 control flowlines 8 and 9. 21 is a stufling box through which the ignition elementmay be introduced in the combustion chamber. The oil lifted passesthrough pipe 12 into separator 13 from which combustion gases and oilmay be withdrawn through valved pipes 14 and 15 respectively.

The apparatus shown is in illustration merely and not in any sense inlimitation of that which may be used without departing from myinvention. Among other things, the apparatus may be so operated thatonly one of the lead in pipes 8 or 9 is required. The .inner tube 10may, under certain conditions,

1927. Serial N0. 201,066.

be dispensed with and the products of combustion liberated in casing 11.Equalization chambers may be provided. in pipes 8 and 9 go assist inmaintaining a uniform rateof ow. When operating the apparatus shown,with the burner in position, compressors l6 and 17 are started'up. Theirrunning rate is adjusted so that a combustible mixture of air and gaswill result in the chamber 1 and the w oil will bedisplacedtherefrom.Combustion is, initiated by means of element 6. Element 6 may be ofvarious forms; it may consist of a cage containing spongy platinum, inwhich event it is only necessary to lower the element into the chamberand combustion is thereby initiated. It may consist of a resistanceelement or spark gap in which case it is necessary to lower it into thechamber so that rod 7 makes contact with steel floor 3 and thereupon toapply current, high tension for spark gap or low tension for resistanceelement.-

The lowering of the ignition element is accomplished by a Wire passingthrough stuffing box 21 and pipe 8. If electrical ignition means isemployed, this wire should be suitably insulated. utilized as return forthe electric current.

Subsequent to ignition, the operation of the compressors is continuedand combustion is thereby maintained in chamber 1. This chamber permitsof the maintenance of com-.

bustion therein although entirely surrounded by liquid and the hotgaseous products of combustion escape thorugh the openings 5 into thecolumn of'petroleum. This results in a resumption oracceleration of flowand the ascending column of petroleum and gas is diverted through pipe12 to separator 13.

The gas passes off through valved pipe 14 while petroleum is, withdrawnthrough .valve'd pipe 15. The gas from 14 is prefer- The lead in pipesmay be.

tible and on uniting in the chamber, form a combustible mixture.

The heat of combustion operates to prevent the formation of parafiinicor other organic deposits in the casing and to remove previously formedobstructions of this character. In an alternative method of operatingthis apparatus, I may dispense with one lead-in line and discharge bothcompressors into a common line, for example 8, by appropriatemanipulation of valves 18, 19 and 20. In this case, the compressors areoperated to deliver a mixture of air and gas in combustible proportionsby means of one lead-in pipe. The rate of flow of this mixture throughthe lead in pipe may be greater than the rate of flame propa ation. The"method of ignition and the su sequent operation of the' apparatus aresubstantially identical with that previously described.

While I have described a form of apparatus and methods of operation, itwill be understood that my invention is not limited thereto butcomprises broadly a method and apparatus for lifting petroleum oils fromnatural reservoirs by the generation and liberation of products ofcombustion at a point in the oil to be lifted What I claim is:

1. The method of lifting oil from oil wells,

which comprises bringing together non-combustible mixtures of am and gasin separate non-combustible streams below the surface of the oil to belifted and in such proportions as to form a combustible mixture,igniting said combustible mixture. continuously maintaining theresulting flame without explosion and commingling the products ofcombustion with the oil to be lifted to form an ascending column ofmixed oil and gas.

2. The method of lifting oil from an oil Well, which comprises passingfuel and air in a confined stream to a combustion chamber within thebody of oil in the well and opening into the body of oil, igniting thefuel in the combustion chamber onl when the'fuelreaches a positionbeneath the level of the body of'oil, and commingling the products ofcombustion with the oil to form an ascending column of mixed oil andgas.

3. A gas lift elevator for a well casing con taining liquid, comprisin acombustion chamber having an outlet'sli bmerged beneath the normal levelof liquid within the casing, means for supplying fuel and air to thecham her, an ignition element, and means for suspending the ignitionelement within the chamber for initiating combustion of the fuel.

FRANK A. HOWARD.

